Hydraulic swivel



W. E. KING.

HYDRAULIC SWII/EL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 3| I921.

[mi k Patented Oct. 17, 11922,

2 SHEETS-SHEET I. I5"

. I INVENTOR. 0 Waliw fl gfi BY I M I? $01] TTOREYS.

W. E. KiNG.

HYDRAULIC SWIVEL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-3,1921.

Lk lfl o Pawme Get. 117, N22,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

2: WWW 35 Patented @ct. 17, 1922.

nruren stares WALTER E. KENG, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

HYDRAULIC SWIVEL.

Application filed September 3, 1921. Serial No. 498,578.

2" 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WALTER E. KING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful. Improvement'in a Hydraulic Swivel, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a hydraulic swivel which is used in the rotary system of drilling wells, and has for an object a light and strong swivel with a few parts so designed and arranged as to give a maximum of service at a minimum cost.

Another object is to provide a swivel that is simple in construction and operation, so that one unskilled in its care and use will experience no difficulty in keeping it in a state of repair.

A further object is to make a swivel that will require few wrenches and obviate the necessity of spanner wrenches.

A still further object is to arrange all packing in a manner that will permit it to be renewed without removing any parts.

A further feature is to permit the packing to be adjusted while the swivel is in operation.

Further features reside in the provision of means to eliminate lost-motion and backslack and for adjustment to compensate for wear in the moving parts.

I also provide a reservoir for holding lubricants. means for cleaning out the reservoir and replenishing the lubricants without dis-assembling the swivel, and also arrange the intake in such a manner that none of the incoming mud-laden fluid can get to the bearings.

With the above and other objects in View the invention has certain peculiar and destinctive features of design and construction, an example of which is described in the following specification and set forth in the ac comp anyin drawings. wherein Figure 1 is a vertical section.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view of the lower gland lockring.

Figure 4 is a front elevation, and

Figure 5 is the top from above.

Closer reference to the drawings is by numerals, and like numerals indicate like parts in the several figures. The numeral 1 is the body which is irregular in shape, and en largecl at the top having a shoulder 2 on which. rests the bearing plate Tnterposed between the bearing plate 3 and a similar bearing plate A are the anti-friction members 5 which may be any of the several well known types.

Passing entirely through the body is the swivel stem 6 which is broadened at the top forming a heavy flange 7. The under side of this flange rests on the bearing plate 1. The lower end has a bore 8 extending above the perforations 9. The threaded portion 10 is for connecting to the drill stem (not shown.)

A cap 11 is bolted rigidly to the top of the body 1 with the screws 12, and has an adjusting screw 13 screwed through its center. A plug 14: is also screwed into the cap.

The adjusting screw 13 has a square or hexagonal top 15 to accommodate a wrench an unthreaded portion 16 and a conical point 17. The unthreaded portion 16 and the conical point 17 fit into a corresponding bore and conical seat in the top of the swivel stem 6. This adjusting screw serves a dual purpose in that the unthreaded portion 16 forms an annular bearing with the bore into which it fits. and the conical point 17 is kept screwed down into its seat thus eliminating all back-slack or lost-motion in the swivel stem 6, the bearing plates 3 and 1 and the anti-friction bearing 5; thus it is a simple means of compensating for wear in the movin parts. The conical point 17 also keeps the swivel stem 6 centered and reduces its tendency to wobble or oscillate. The adjusting screw also takes care of the upward thrust when spudding or when the swivel is resting on its own weight.

A lock nut 18 locks the screw 13 in place and has the lugs 19 made integrally with it. This lock nut is tightened or loosened by striking the lugs with a hammer.

Near the bottom of the body 1 is fastened the hose connection 20 which is in line with the perforations 9 of the swivel stem 6. A chamber 21 is maderin the body 1 and entirely surrounds the perforated section of the swivel stem 6 and allows the mud-ladened fluid to enter the bore 8 regardless of the position of the perforations 9.

The packings 22 and 23 are situated above and below the perforations 9, respectively, and the glands 24c and 25 are for adjusting the packings 22 and 23. These glands have lugs 26 made integrally with them and are to fit a wrench as indicated by the numeral 27.

The lower gland 25 is provided with a lock ring 28 which has the lugs 29 as a part of it. These lugs are for tightening and loosening the lock ring by striking them with a hammer. The packing 30 and gland 31 are for packing against the lubricant which is provided for the bearings.

The well known bail 32 is for holding the swivel in suspension and is attached to the trunnions 33 which are part of the body 1.

An opening 34 is made in the body 1 to Igender the glands 24: and 31 readily accessi- I have provided a plug 35 which can be removed and gives access to the chamber 21 in the event the chamber becomes choked up and it is necessary to clean it out.

The cavity 36 is kept filled with lubricants while the swivel is in use; 1

I have provided a plug 37 which is removed when the lubricant is to be drained out and it is desired to flush the bearings with kerosene, gasoline or other cleansing agencies. New lubricant is supplied through the opening left by removing the plug 14:.

What I claim is 1. A hydraulic swivel composed of a continuous body member, a rotatably mounted swivel stem housed therein, whose upper" end is formed into a flange, anti-friction bearings sustaining said flange, a shoulder formed in the upper portion of the said body member, on which said bearings are seated, a cap fixed to the top of the body member, an adjusting screw threaded. through said cap and seated in the top of the said swivel stem, a hose connection hav ing communication with the interior of the swivel stem by means of perforations in the swivel stem, packing above and below said perforations, and glands holding said packing in place.

2. In a hydraulic swivel a continuous body member whose upper end is enlarged forming av shoulder, anti-friction bearings on said shoulder, a swivel stem having a shoulder formed on its upper end which rests on the said anti-friction bearings and passes entirely through the body member, a cover fixed to the top of the body member, an adjusting screw threaded through said cover, said adjusting screw entering a seat in the top of the said swivel stem, a hose connection communicating with the interior of the swivel stem through holes that pierce the swivel stem, packing and glands above and below said holes, and packing and a gland below the anti-frictionbearings.

3 A hydraulic swivel of the character described having a main body member, a rotatably mounted swivel'stem and anti-friction bearings housed within said main body member, a cap covering the top of the said body member, an adjusting-screw entering a seat in the 01 of said swivel stem, a 10 k nut for the said adjusting screw, a hose connection communicating with the interior of the swivel stem through passages drilled into the swivel stem, packing and glands above and below the said passages, and acking and a gland below the anti-friction earings, said glands being provided with lugs to accommodate a wrench.

4. A hydraulic swivel consisting of a main body member a rotatable swivel stem having an enlarged portion, anti-friction bearings, the said bearings being between said enlarged portion of the said swivel stem and a shoulder formed in the main body memher, a cap tightly secured to the top of the said body member, an adjusting screw having an unthreaded portion which enters a bore in the top of the swivel stem and forms an annular bearing with that portion of the swivel stem, locking means for the said adjustin r screw, perforations in the swivel stem forming a passage from the interior of the swivel stem to a hose connection affixed to the body member, packing above and below the said perforations and below'90 the anti-friction bearings, and glands to adjust the said packings, the said glands havin lugs to fit a suitable wrench.

5. n a hydraulic swivel a main body member, a swivel stem, anti-friction bearings sustaining said swivel stem within said main body member,. whose upper end is bored, a cap secured to the said body member, an adjusting screw screwed through-the said cap and having an unthreaded portion entering said bore of the said swivel stem and forming an annular bearing therewith,

a conical point on the said adjusting screw seating in a corresponding conical seat into which the bottom of the bore is formed, a hose nozzle, affixed to the body member, and communicatin with the interior of the swivel stem, g ands provided for adjusting packings which are interposed above and below the perforations and below the antifriction bearings, the said glands having lugs provided to fit a wrench, and a locking ring with lugs provided for the lower gland,

the said lugs being provided for striking with a hammer when it is desired to tighten or loosen the locking ring. v

6. In a hydraulic swivel a main body por-' tion, anti-friction bearingstherein,a swivel stem having a'perforatedsection, and whose top is bored, a hoseconnectlon opposite "sald section and communicating therewith,pack- 7 ing and glands provided with lugs to accommodate a wrench, interposed above and below the perforated section of swivel stem i and below the anti-friction bearings that are housed within the main'body member, the said anti-friction bearings sustaining the swivel stem by means ofan enlarged portion at'the-top thereof, a cap fixed securely tothe top; of the said body member, an ad justing screw through said top, the said adjusting screw having an unthreaded section which "forms an annular bearing with said bore in the top of the swivel stem into which it enters, a conical point on the adjusting screw which rests in a conical seat in the swivel stem bore, and locking means for the adjusting screw.

7. A hydraulic swivel composed of a main body member, anti-friction bearings therein, a swivel stem rotatablymounted on said anti-friction bearings, said swivel stem having a fluid passage way in its lower end, and ports communicating therewith, a cap fixed to the top of the said body member, an adjusting screw with a conical point entering the upper portion of the said swivel stem and forming a bearing therewith, a hose nozzle fixed to the said body and in alignment with said ports leading to the interior of the swivel stem, and packing and glands inserted to prevent leakage, said glands being provided with suitable projections to fit a wrench.

8. A hydraulic swivel having a body with a cap fixed at the top and a hose nozzle near the bottom, anti-friction bearings therein, a rotatable swivel stem housed within the said body, and sustained on said bearings, an adjusting screw forming a hearing in the top of the said swivel stem, ports giving access to the interior of the swivel stem, a hose nozzle opposite the said ports, packing and glands to prevent leakage above and below the ports and below the antifriction bearings, and projections on the said glands to accommodate a wrench.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WVALTER E. KING.

Witnesses:

E. V. HARDWAY, W. H. DUNLAY. 

